2BSkinny

Wow, that stinks! Have you tried prilosec or another PPI? Maybe your surgeon can help you? I've never had that issue but I certainly feel for you! I'm sure you will get better over time but I sense your frustration that at 10 weeks you're still having problems. Good luck!

Congratulations, you look awesome. Best wishes on your continued success. Lisa

At my heaviest I was wearing a 20/22 just prior to surgery in Oct 2010. For several years I have kept a few tubs of my nicest, most expensive and mostly classic styled clothes in smaller sizes so I could wear them again when I lost weight (many were actually still new). While cleaning out our garage last weekend and unpacking the last of the boxes from our move two years ago, I ran across those tubs. I was so excited to go through all these awesome garments until I realized that each and every item was too big for me. Because I don't see myself as a small person, I never would have imagined not fitting into my "small" clothes (10-14). So the moral of the story is.....if you have boxes of small clothes, pull them out early and try them on often. You'll be surprised at how your body changes so quickly! Lisa

Thanks everyone for your comments and well-wishes! It's great to be able to share successes (and failures) with others who understand. For those of you still undecided or waiting for surgery, this is without a doubt, the best thing I've done for myself. Lisa

Hello! I understand your frustration. I, too, was a very slow loser for the first month. If you keep your Protein and Water intake where it should be, the weight will eventually begin to melt away. I'm almost 11 mos. post op and have lost about 80 lbs since my day of surgery. Even at a month post op I seriously questioned my ability to shed the pounds other VSG patients do. While others were losing 20+ lbs per month, I was losing 5-10. In the end, I couldn't be happier and I know you will feel the same next summer! Best wishes on your journey. Lisa

Grocery shopping with my kids is never a pleasant experience. After picking my 13 year old son up from an event yesterday I was forced to take him with me to pick some things up for a party we were having last night. Rather than making deserts, I decided last minute to pick up a variety of things from the bakery section of the grocery store. Everything looked wonderful and I jokingly said to my son "it's never a good idea to let me run loose in the bakery while I'm on a diet". My son replied "Uh, mom, you don't need to be on a diet anymore and should be able to eat this if you want to. Just saying..." I have always felt bad that I was overweight when all the friends moms looked like supermodels. Hearing my son say I shouldn't be on a "diet" anymore was priceless! Lisa

That's a great question, Rootman! For me, I am 13 lbs lower than my goal and I still think about how "bad" I look. When I was 240 lbs., I would have given anything to be 100 lbs lighter and would not have cared one little bit that my inner thighs sag a little or the skin on my tummy hangs. For whatever reason, even at goal I don't see myself as "done". I hope someday to find peace. With luck you will think about vacations, personal goals not related to weightloss, or maybe you can focus that extra time and energy volunteering in some capacity.??? Best wishes on the final stage of your journey. Lisa

Hi. Yes, I've noticed I can no longer cough as I used to. This was very disturbing to me when I had a severe chest cold and bronchitis which led to pneumonia. I'm now down about 95 lbs and at the time I had lost a total of about 80-85 lbs. I do believe that once I healed completely from that period of illness my lungs were stronger and therefore my cough had a little more force to it. Now that I've read your post I'm totally curious to see how my cough is at the moment, but I just had my gall bladder removed and coughing hurts! I'm interested to hear what others have to say as well. Thanks for bringing this up! Lisa

Did your uvula ever heal? I had VSG in Oct 2010 but just had my gall bladder removed on Thursday 8/4/11. During my most recent surgery the anesthesiologist must have knicked or otherwise severely stretched my uvula, too. It is driving me beyond crazy. In doing a google search of this condition and how long it takes to get better, I ran across your old post. How are you doing now and how long did it take to feel better and what did you do to help? Thanks! Lisa

Thanks for your thoughtful reply. The pills might have prevented you from needing your gall bladder removed, or might not have. You'll likely never know, but if I was offered the actigall I certainly would have taken it, too! (especially given my history of malfunctioning GB) In any case, I'm very glad that you haven't needed this additional surgery. Maybe this can help other VSG patients insist on learning more about the health of their own gall bladders before WLS. Avoid another surgery if possible is my motto of the day..... Lisa

Be glad you had a healthy gall bladder going into surgery! And, yes, the uvula complication is highly unpleasant, to say the least.

As nasty as the actigall tablets are (from what I hear), be glad they were prescribed to you. Take them and hopefully keep yourself out of the OR! My anesthesiologist says the swelling should subside within about 3-4 days post-op. Online I'm reading 1-2 weeks. Let's hope my doctor is right! This side effect is for the birds! Thanks for your well wishes... Lisa

Still not doing well today. I was back in the hospital yesterday for more IV steroids to try to reduce the swelling in my throat. I cannot breathe or swallow well and have a choking/gagging sensation constantly. My uvula is huge, very long, and drags down my throat. The breathing tube must have snagged it and stretched it beyond belief. Again, if you can avoid having an extra surgery to have the gall bladder removed, do it. If it isn't healthy to begin with, have the sucker removed during VSG. No, my throat issue is not caused directly by the cholecystectomy, it is simply a risk you take every time you have a breathing tube placed in you. The fewer breathing tubes placed in you, the lower your risk! Thanks for your kind words of compassion and encouragement. I sure hope to feel better soon! Lisa

Yes, please do use me as an example to your patients. It's not that the cholecystectomy surgery is so dangerous, but there is absolutely no need to suffer from the potential horrible complications if it is not necessary! Have the GB removed at the same time as the VSG! I hope that I have helped someone else NOT go through what it happening to me. Lisa